Refectory table



Patented Mar. 22, 1938 Al i REFEGTORY TABLE Charles L. Creech, Jr.,Winston-Salem, N. C.

ApplicatibnOctober 18, 1934, Serial No. 748,856 2 Claims. (01. 311-56)This invention relates to a refectory table.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a construction in arefectory table which includes themain table top and atop extension thatnormally is nestable or socketed below the main top and in a spaceprovided between the main top and the frame adjacent an end thereof,which construction does not require the extension top to be pulled outfrom its nested position appreciably beyond the main top, elevated andthen returned toward its nested position but in an elevated relation toits initial movement and into abutting relation with the main top toforma continuation oran extension thereof, but which construction merelyrequires the pulling out of extension top to the full length of itsextended movement and then the elevation thereof, thereby eliminatingthe return travel and elevation-movement heretofore common in the art ofrefectory tables. a

The chief feature of the invention consists in the provision of certainso-called hardware by which the table top extensionmay be elevated intothe plane of the table top upon being extended from the nested orsocketed position to the full extent of the extended movement andmaintained in elevated relation.

The present invention is illustrated herein as of three difierent types.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the table, the legsbeing shown in section and the table being equipped with the necessaryelements to comprise a refectory construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on broken line 22 of Fig.l and in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 1 and 2 in the right hand portion show the top extension in theelevated and extended position forming a continuation-oi the main top ofthe table and the left hand portion of said figures illustrate a similartop extension in the nested or socketed position. v

3 isa bottom plan view of a modified form of the invention, wherein acommon control is associated with the individual hardware car-.

ried by each of the slide bars of the extension top.

i is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form of hardwaresimilar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and of the individually operabletype, the extension being shown in the extended and table topcontinuation forming position;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of theinvention illustrating a simplified adjustable form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 65 of Fig. 5, and inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 5 of the form of the inventionillustrated in smaller scale in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and of a modified form of theinvention shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 9 is a View taken atrig ht angles thereto of the adjustably mountedbracket.

' Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 5 of a modified form of theinvention shown in Figs. '7 and 5.

Fig. 11 is a View taken at right angles thereto of the adjustablymounted bracket.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the right end of Fig. 2. i

In the drawings It indicates a main top of a table. A frame comprisespair of side rails H and two end rails 52. With the present form of theinvention, an individual leg-construction and mounting are illustrated,and herein the leg is indicated by the numeral 13, the anchoring bolt bythe numeral it, the adjacent rail connecting member by the numeral l5,and the locking nut by the numeral it. This corner construction isstandard in. table constructions. Any other corner construction,however, may be substituted therefor without departing from the broaderfeatures of the invention.

The top edges of the rails are spaced from the bottom plane of the topby a depth at least equal to the thickness of the table top extensionll. These extensions are commercially known as slides. Obviously, thetops of the legs terminate in spaced relation to the top to permitfreedom of slide movement.

The means for securing the frame to the top includes four L-shaped, incross section, blocks 3, each of which has a portion iii that liesoutside of the side rail and a portion 213 that lies between the sameand the table top and spaces the rail from the top. Screwsv 2i securethe blocks 18 to the table top and any suitable means secures the railsto the blocks. In this manner the frame, consisting of the legs and theend and side rails, are secured in relatively spaced relation to thetable top and provide'an open space at each end of the table for nestingthe slide or top extension l'i between the top and the frame and beneaththe top;

To mask the anchoring blocks which are suitably secured to the siderails and for ornamentation in forming an unbroken or non-gap surfacebetween the two extension slides when nested, and for bridging the spacetherebetween, are the auxiliary rails 22 secured to the top as at 23.The opposite ends of these rails 22 as at 22a may serve asv stops forthe rear edges of the extension slides when in nested relation.

Any other suitable method of mounting the table top upon the frame workand providing open spaces at the ends of the frame immediately beneaththe top for nesting the slides may be employed without departing fromthe broader features of this invention.

Extending from one auxiliary side rail 22 to the other is an elongatedmember 24, the same being secured to the table top as at 25. Portions 26of the member 24, in depth, are approximately only the thickness of thetop extension, or in other Words, the depth of the opening between theframe and the main top. The auxiliary rails 22 mask the ends of themember 24 at the extensions 26. lhe member 24 inwardly of the extensions28 is of greater depth and includes spaced slots 27.

These slots 21 accommodate the slide bars. Herein a pair of slide bars28 is provided for each top extension and is suitably secured thereto asat EU. The slide bars for each extension are offset relative to the barsfor the other extension and the width of the slot 2'! in the bar guidingmember 2A is double the width of the slides for two bar accommodation.The slots 21 in depth are considerably deeper than the depth of thebars.

Each bar near its free end carries an inclined member or block 38 whichengages the bottom of the recess 27 and causes the slide in itsextending movement to be automatically elevated until the full extendingmovement is obtained. Near the end of the extending movement certainhardware, the specific subject matter of the invention, automaticallybecomes operable to elevate the top extension into the same plane as thetable top at the end of the extending movement and to thereafter supportthe same in such plane until subsequently manually and positivelyreleased.

Each bar intermediate its ends includes an inclined block 3! which hasone edge 32 adapted to serve as a stop by engaging the inside of the endrail l2 when the slide is extended.

In alignment with each slide bar and near the free end thereof when theextension top is nested and secured to the table top, is an inclinedblock 33 which serves to force downwardly the rear or free end of theslide bar and also serves more or less as a stop to prevent upwardtilting of the extension top in the initial extending movement thereof.In other words, the end of the bar must first clear the inclined member33 before relatively great tilting or elevating movement in theextending movement of the extension top is possible. This preventsmarring of the top extension.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, one, and the preferred individualform, of the automatically operable and manually releasible hardware forelevating without retraction of the extension top, illustrated. In saidfigures, the slide bar is recessed as at 3 3 and suitably securedtherein, is a base plate 35. Said base plate has a tongue strucktherefrom to lie within the confines of the recess 34. Said tongueserves as an anchorage for spring 31 secured .as at 38 to a dependingarm 35? of a member which is pivoted as at 23 on said plate. The member39 has a depending extension All which is adapted to engage the bottomedge of a notch 42 in an end rail l2, as shown clearly in the right handportion of Fig. 2, to maintain the slide extension I! in position as anextension or continuation of the main top H).

The spring 3'! permits the cam like head 43 of the member 39 to rideunder a locking plate 44, suitably secured at 45 in countersunk relationupon the bottom of the table top. The countersunk portion communicateswith the elongated slot 46 which is provided to permit tilting movementof the member 39. A rod 41 is suitably secured to the member 39 as at 48and is slidably mounted in a groove 49 formed in the face of the slidebar bearing or the slide. The rod 41 carries at its free and outer end,a pull ring or similar device 50.

The underface of each table top extension is provided with a finger gripor groove 5|. The operation is as follows:--

The slide is engaged by gripping the same at 5! and is pulled outwardlyto remove the slide from its nested position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 atthe left, and as it is moved outwardly, the block 36 engaging in theslot 21, elevates the slide so that the movement is more or less. in aninclined plane directed upwardly into the plane of the main table top.Near the immediate end of the extension movement, the depending portion4| of the hardware, engages the bottom surface of the slot 42 in the endrail l2. When thus engaged, the top extension is maintained in table topextension-forming position. When it is desired to nest the extension,the two pull rings 58 are engaged which tilt the members 39 from theirsupporting position, permitting the extension to drop downwardly andthereafter inward movement of the extension will nest the same beneaththe table top.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at the end of theextending movement, the upper portion 43 of member 39 having the notch52 therein, through the influence of spring 37, serves to receive theedge of plate 54 to further lock the extended leaf in the elevatedposition.

The plate 35 has struck from it a stop 53 which limits tilting movementof member 39 under the influence of spring 31.

In Fig. 4 a modified form of the invention is illustrated and in saidfigure, numerals of the one hundred seriesv are utilized. In this formof the invention, the additional sustaining means, such as the plate 43,cam portion 33 and notch 52 of the member 39, are omitted.

In Fig. 3 a still further modified form of the invention is illustratedand the same may be utilized with either form of the invention shown inFigs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 4. In this form of the invention a single pullmember is provided to simultaneously actuate both of the automaticmechanisms embodying the hardware, the subject matter of th specificinvention disclosed herein.

In this form of the invention, the two members 239 and 243 are connectedby a rod 269, in turn connected as at 25! to a red 24? slidablysupported as at 2 29 and terminating in a pull ring 25 In this.arrangement, the plates 235 are positioned in recesses upon adjacentfaces of the slide bars and face each other while Figs. 1 and 2illustrate a. reverse arrangement.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated a simplified adjustable form of theinvention. Similar numerals of the 300 series indicate similar parts.The table top is indicated by the numeral 310, the extension top leaf bythe numeral 3", the slide by the numeral 328, the notch therein by thenumeral 334, the supporting plate by the numeral 335, the support memberby the numeral 3 pivoted to the plate 335 at 340 and connected to triprod or means 347 at 343 and tensi-oned by spring 331 connected to plate335 at 336 and to member 3 at 338. Rod 34'! is nested in channel 349.

The end rail M2 is slotted at 342 to accommodate the slide bar 328. RailSIZ supports in juxtaposition to each slot 342 an angle plate 300secured thereto by screws 30! in offset, parallel, inclined slots 302.Thus, angle plate 300 can be adjusted vertically and horizontally toinsure certainty of support for the lower end of member 34L Theadjustable support shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is to be expresslyunderstood, may be sub-- stituted for the direct engagement of the support member upon the bottom of the notch in the frame structure shown inFigs. 1 to 4, inelusive.

In Figs. 8 and 9,the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is shownassociated with the adjustably mounted bracket. Numerals of the 400series indicate parts similar to those similarly indicated in Figs. l, 5and 6. y

In Figs. 10 and 11, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7is shown associated With the adjustably mounted bracket. Numerals of the500 series indicate parts similar to those similarly indicated in Figs.1, 2, '1, 5 and 6.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in great detailin the foregoing, the same is to be considered illustrative and notrestrictive in character. These several modifications thus illustratedand described, as well as those specifically mentioned in additionthereto and as well as others which will readily suggest themselves topersons skilled in this art, are all believed to be within the broadscope of this invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:-

1. In a refectory table having an extension slide, slide supportingmechanism for sustaining a slide in extended and aligned positionadjacent a main top including a member pivotally connected to the slideand having a supporting portion, means normally constraining said memberinto supporting position, a stop for limiting the pivotal movement ofsaid member to the supporting position, and means operatively associatedwith the member for manually tilting said member in opposition to theconstraining movement, said member being automatically tiltable in themovement of the slide in one direction and being manually tiltable topermit movement of the slide in the opposite direction, an adjustablysupported angle member upon which the supporting portion of said pivotalmember rests, and a stop for the supporting mechanism adjacent theadjustable angle for limiting slide movement.

2. In an extension table having a main top, a supporting slotted frametherefor, and an extension top nestable in the frame slot below the maintop, in combination a pair of substantially straight parallel barssecured at their outer ends to the underface of the said extension tophaving their inner ends free of frame engagement, a'nested catch in theunderface of the main top adjacent the frame and in substantialregistration with each bar, an integral combintion latch and extensiontop support pivotally carried by the arm and normally constrained towardsupport position and automatically movable into frame engagementtherefor where the extension top is fully extended and into latch andcatch engagement, stop means limiting the extension movement, andmanually operable means for tilting said latch and support in oppositionto the constraint for releasing and lowering the extension toppreliminary to nesting thereof.

CHARLES L. CREECH, JR.

